IDWBE – Chapter 5 The Disciple

A sudden breeze rose. Fine ripples leapt across the river’s surface, slapping against the bank with a low, mournful sound.

Xiao Anzi grew even more frightened. Looking pitifully at Hong Ying, she called softly, “Master…”

“Mhm.” Hong Ying nodded—then turned and walked away.

“Master…”

The more she called, the faster he walked. Soon the street walls swallowed his figure, and he disappeared.

She glanced back at the broad, shimmering river. Shrinking her neck, she hesitated only a moment before pumping her short legs and chasing after her master.

In the pitch darkness, she simply followed the path he took, not knowing where they were headed—until she realized he had stopped in front of her own home. She froze.

She saw her parents bowing and scraping before her master. Then they pressed their thumbprints onto a sheet of paper and happily escorted him out.

When she noticed her mother’s head appearing over the doorway, she panicked and tried to find somewhere to hide.

“Xiao Anzi, your luck has come!”

Too late to hide.

Her mother had already called out to her.

Since the day she was born, her mother had never spoken to her in such a gentle tone.

“Once you enter the Prince’s residence, you’ll enjoy endless blessings!”

Her father chimed in.

No matter how much her parents flattered her master, Hong Ying kept a cold face and said nothing.

“What are you standing there for? Hurry and follow Chief Steward Hong! Do well in the Prince’s residence—don’t disgrace your father!”

As she stood there stunned, her father suddenly barked at her again.

She still hadn’t fully reacted when her father shoved her.

She didn’t budge.

Her master had taught her: no matter the situation, plant your feet firmly into the ground—rooted like a tree.

Her father’s slap came toward her face. In her eyes, it moved very, very slowly.

But she didn’t dare dodge.

She knew if she did, his anger wouldn’t subside.

He would only beat her harder and curse her more viciously.

Smack.

Her cheek burned.

Covering her face, she followed the direction of her father’s finger and saw her master’s back receding into the distance.

At last, she understood.

Like a lost soul, she trailed after her master. At the side gate of Prince He’s residence, he paused, glanced at her once, and she stepped inside.

Every time she had entered Prince He’s residence before, the farthest she’d gone was beneath the shadow wall near the side gate. This was her first time entering the spacious side hall.

The ache in her heart crushed all curiosity. She had no mood to look around. Head lowered, she stood nervously before her master.

Hong Ying cradled his teacup, took a light sip, and said calmly, “You heard what your parents said?”

Xiao Anzi twisted the corner of her clothes in her hands. “Master… I know. They sold me.”

She had heard every word from beginning to end.

She had understood perfectly.

She just hadn’t wanted to believe it.

“You’re eleven this year?”

“Master… twelve.”

“Remember the Prince’s words: strive unceasingly. In the future, you’ll be no worse than anyone.”

Hong Ying closed the lid of his teacup, set it down, stood with his hands behind his back, and said, “Make something of yourself. Otherwise, just like your mother said—living won’t be of much use.”

“Master, I will! I won’t disgrace you!” Xiao Anzi hurriedly said.

“It’s not about disgracing me,” Hong Ying corrected sharply. “It’s about not disgracing the Prince.”

“…Not disgracing the Prince.” Her voice grew even softer.

“Do you still remember your name?”

“I’m Sun—”

A chill ran down her spine. She hurriedly corrected herself. “Hong An. My name is Hong An.”

Tears welled up in her eyes again.

Hong Ying stepped across the threshold and said expressionlessly to the maid waiting outside, “Mingyue, arrange lodging for my disciple. Teach her some rules tomorrow. If she offends the Prince, I’ll break your legs.”

Their Prince might be free-spirited and unruly, but Hong Ying would not allow anyone to behave improperly before him.

“Yes, Chief Steward Hong. This servant understands,” Mingyue replied with a bow.

Lin Yi slept until well past mid-morning. If not for the heat making it impossible to continue, he would have slept even longer.

“So young, yet never enough sleep…”

Yawning, Lin Yi took the damp towel from Hong Ying.

“Your Highness has worked hard,” Hong Ying said with a smile.

“Oh? Xiao Anzi.”

As Lin Yi entered the pavilion for breakfast, he spotted Hong An standing stiffly to the side.

“Up early, huh? Kids need sleep, or you won’t grow tall.”

“Your Highness…”

After placing the final plate of stir-fried mutton on the table, Hong Ying knelt. “This servant made a decision on his own to take her as a disciple. I beg Your Highness’s approval.”

Lin Yi chewed his glutinous rice cake slowly.

“How many times have I said it? Don’t serve so much food in the morning—it’s wasteful! Does our family own a mine or something? How did I end up with such spendthrift fools?”

He swallowed and added lazily, “You’ve really gotten addicted to kneeling lately. Don’t get up.”

Hong An watched as the Prince finished eating and stood, then glanced at her master, still kneeling.

Once the Prince left the pavilion, she couldn’t help but step forward and gently support her master’s arm. “Master…”

“Slap yourself,” Hong Ying said coldly, unmoving. “Forgot the rules you just learned?”

“Bullying a little girl—quite the skill you’ve got, huh?”

Lin Yi suddenly stuck his head out from around a garden corner.

“Prepare the donkey. We’re going fishing. We’ll add dishes tonight.”

“Yes!”

Hong Ying sprang up delightedly, then shot Hong An a stern look. “Continue practicing the Eight Steps Chasing the Toad. If you slack off, I won’t spare you.”

“Master, I will—”

He didn’t bother listening to the rest and hurried after the Prince.

The Prince’s standard outing consisted of two guards, one maid, one donkey, and one eunuch.

“Xiao Hei, if you dare throw me today—”

Lin Yi tugged at the ears of the pitch-black donkey.

“I’ll have donkey meat buns tonight! Don’t think I won’t.”

His youthful dream of galloping on horseback had yet to come true.

Reality was cruel.

Riding a horse was harder than getting a driver’s license.

As for carriages—stuffed inside, stuffy and airless. Even with ice jars, maybe others could endure it, but he certainly couldn’t.

The donkey’s ears were already long. With Lin Yi tugging them, they looked even longer.

It glanced nervously at Hong Ying beside it, not daring to move, and let out an unpleasant bray.

After helping the Prince mount, Hong Ying smiled. “Your Highness, where shall we fish today?”

“We strike out at Juuma River every time,” Lin Yi grumbled. “Let’s go farther—to the North Canal. I have a feeling today we’ll haul in a full catch.”

“As Your Highness says.”

He had never been told what “strike out” or “haul in a full catch” meant.

But over the years, he’d more or less figured it out.

“Changed her name to Hong An?” Lin Yi asked curiously amid the bustling streets. “If you’re taking her as a disciple, don’t ruin the child.”

Hong Ying smiled. “Your Highness, this servant’s skills are most suitable for a girl to learn.”

“What was it called again?” Lin Yi couldn’t quite recall.

“Primordial Convergence Art.”

“You’ve got nerve—lifting the name straight from there.”

Lin Yi snorted. Using a martial art name from Journey to the West—wasn’t he afraid of overreaching himself?

“This servant knows his fault.”

Leading the donkey, Hong Ying grinned brightly.